Max 30-min commute to DFW airport - charming, family (McMansion-free) neighborhood? (McKinney: schools, quality of life)

[Squirl]

So here's the issue: 30 min to airport.

You will find everything you want as far as higher level professionals and proximity to airport in Colleyville, Coppell and Southlake. But the local flavor and avoidance of retail chains won't happen for you within 30 min of the airport. Just won't happen.

Dallas grew mostly from the 70's on. Before that it wasn't a major city. Housing stock is generally new except for core areas. The DFW airport was built away from the city.

[stan4]

I don't think the McMansion avoidance will be the tough part. More like finding a neighborhood that's "liberal."
But even in the heart of conservative West Plano, I have found people to be accepting and good neighbors.

Southlake sounds like a good choice for op.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by stan4

I don't think the McMansion avoidance will be the tough part. More like finding a neighborhood that's "liberal."
But even in the heart of conservative West Plano, I have found people to be accepting and good neighbors.

Southlake sounds like a good choice for op.

Location-wise yes, but in every other respect...a swing and a miss IMHO.

And you are right about "liberal" neighborhoods...we have very few of those. Having said that, I'm a leftie Independent voter and nobody in mostly-Republican Richardson hassles me about it at all. My neighbors don't ask me about my politics and I don't ask them about theirs, mostly because I don't care.

[synchronicity]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Location-wise yes, but in every other respect...a swing and a miss IMHO.

And you are right about "liberal" neighborhoods...we have very few of those. Having said that, I'm a leftie Independent voter and nobody in mostly-Republican Richardson hassles me about it at all. My neighbors don't ask me about my politics and I don't ask them about theirs, mostly because I don't care.

That Both parts. We're in Southlake to be near the airport and for the schools, and yes, my neighbors and I rarely mention anything political, but everything about Southlake "feel" wise is the antithesis of what the OP is looking for. Colleyville may be marginally better, but I'd emphasize "marginally".

Just like the thread awhile back with that writer, DFW's a different place than what the OP is envisioning. They might kinda sorta find it but only with tradeoffs, and it won't be easy. Doesn't make DFW bad, just different than what they want.

[happycrow]

Irving has the commute nailed, and has tons of parks and mom'n'pops where cafes and such are concerned, but "1.5" -- don't know how to interpret that for prices. Coppell may be a better fit there. It's got lots of the same sort of thing, only with a lot more money. But also McMansions and lots of them. If you want to avoid McMansions, that means notably older homes or a custom builder and a lot.

"Liberal" really depends on what you mean. 3/4 of "Texas liberals" are "center-right libertarians" by the rest of the country's standards.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

1.5 = $1.5 million.

[Squirl]

Originally Posted by happycrow

Irving has the commute nailed, and has tons of parks and mom'n'pops where cafes and such are concerned, but "1.5" -- don't know how to interpret that for prices. Coppell may be a better fit there. It's got lots of the same sort of thing, only with a lot more money. But also McMansions and lots of them. If you want to avoid McMansions, that means notably older homes or a custom builder and a lot.

"Liberal" really depends on what you mean. 3/4 of "Texas liberals" are "center-right libertarians" by the rest of the country's standards.

Irving is about 15-20 min to the airport. it has Fox Glen and Cottonwood Valley that generally are higher end houses but not McMansion. Nice professional neighborhoods that have some homes in the OP's budget, but generally $500k-900k. There's also the Enclave...more expensive and pretty, kind of McMansiony. However, the Irving schools are unacceptable for those areas and OP would need private schools. Yes there are tons of mom 'n pop type shops and dives but they are in the "gritty" side of Irving where largely lower income neighborhoods border such shops and the food and retail is cheap but not so interesting.with a few delightful exceptions, Las Colinas and Valley Ranch are chain restaurants and typical big box stores. I own 5 properties in Irving and its location is wonderful, it's also less plastic than most burbs, but it is not Lakewood...

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by synchronicity

Just like the thread awhile back with that writer, DFW's a different place than what the OP is envisioning. They might kinda sorta find it but only with tradeoffs, and it won't be easy. Doesn't make DFW bad, just different than what they want.

I was also thinking of that other thread! We suggested Portland, Seattle, and Marin County to that person as a better fit; perhaps OP could look into West Coast / Pacific Northwest offices that better align with this poster's wish list.

[Lakewooder]

I got to Lakewood in 20 mins from DFW last night - of course it was 9 pm. However, it can take longer to get to DFW from supposedly 'closer' locations simply because the roads are jammed in those places.

Say you are at the Galleria 635 at the tollway. Do you take the supposedly shorter 635 (a.k.a. LBJ) route? No go down the tollway to Northwest Highway to 114. Which is what Pepper is saying takes her hubby 45 mins from the east side of White Rock Lake - Lakewood is on the west side of the lake (between the lake and downtown) and therefore a bit closer.

In Lakewood, you can go Northwest Highway or Woodall Rodgers/I-35. Obviously there are times to avoid I-35. But then at other times that's much faster, in fact a breeze. DFW will also have DART rail service in 2014.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by aztodfw

We like homes and neighborhoods with pride of ownership and character -- independent mom & pop shops and cafes, good schools, hopefully down-to-earth, liberal-minded folks like ourselves. Access to retail chains and malls is not important to us, but access to parks, walking trails, open spaces and culture/character is. Is it possible to find a neighborhood with doctors and CEOs that also has a sense of charm (and is McMansion-free?)

You've pretty much described Lakewood. There are some McMansions here and there and some adjacent sections which didn't get historic, conservation or NSA districts have a lot of them. Lakewood and East Dallas has the most conservation and historic districts of probably any section of any city in the state. They started here with Swiss Avenue.

Swiss, Lakewood Blvd, Avalon, Tokalon, Lakeshore and many other streets have large historic homes from the 1920s and 30s. There are smaller homes mixed in, mostly like the English Tudor bungalows you see in the M-Streets. There are also a lot of home from the 40s, 50s and 60s which may be a bit colonial but more likely ranch (Austin stone is very popular). Some of those are going down for new homes in the northern part of Lakewood, which surprises Lakewood Lifers. We thought they were so nice it was difficult to believe anyone would tear them down. If you knew University Park back in the 70s you would know what I mean...